Folding bed

ABSTRACT

A folding bed includes first and second unit bedsteads and one or more connection members coupling the first and second unit bedsteads. Each of the first and second unit bedsteads includes a frame with a peripheral bar. The peripheral bar of the frame of the first unit bedstead and the peripheral bar of the frame of the second unit bedstead are adjacent to each other. Corresponding to each respective unit bedstead, each connection member includes a horizontal member, and first and second vertical end portions at first and second edges of the horizontal member respectively. When the folding bed is unfolded, the horizontal member abuts a top surface or a bottom surface of the peripheral bar of the frame of the respective unit bedstead, and the first and second vertical end portions are disposed at an internal side of the respective unit bedstead.

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201620732429.4, filed on Jul. 13, 2016, the entire content of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure generally relates to a bed, and more particularly, a folding bedstead.

Description of Related Art

In general, as the population continues to expand and living quarters become more compact, articles of daily use must have diversified adjustable functions. Folding beds have become necessities for many homes, as folding beds can be manipulated in various methods to optimize available storage volume and convenience of the user. Typically, the folding beds are used in homes, but can also be used outdoors for activities including camping and field projects. The service life of a folding bed can be attributed to the build quality and shake resistance.

Conventional folding beds are designed by utilizing a simple joint. A user connects two folding bedsteads by coupling two bed frames together with bolts, and a mattress rests thereon. However, such a coupling is often time-consuming and labor intensive. Further, both ends of the folding bedsteads need to be coupled with bolts, which is even more time-consuming and labor intensive.

The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The folding bed detailed in the present disclosure address the shortcomings in the prior art detailed above.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to provide a folding bed, which utilizes a more convenient folding and unfolding operation using a connection member, thereby yielding a reduction in assembling time and an increased stability.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a folding bed, comprising a first unit bedstead disposed on a first side and a second unit bedstead disposed on a second side of the folding bed. Moreover, the first unit bedstead is coupled to the second unit bedstead through one or more connection members. Each of the first unit bedstead and the second unit bedstead comprises a frame that defines an interior and comprises a peripheral bar. The peripheral bar of the frame of the first unit bedstead and the peripheral bar of the frame of the second unit bedstead are adjacent to each other. Each of the first unit bedstead and the second unit bedstead also comprises a plurality of crossbars disposed in a common direction in the interior defined by the frame and coupled to the frame.

Corresponding to each respective unit bedstead in the first and second unit bedsteads, each connection member comprises a horizontal member, a first vertical end portion at a first edge of the horizontal member and a second vertical end portion at an opposite second edge of the horizontal member. The horizontal member is configured to abut a top surface or a bottom surface of the peripheral bar of the frame of the respective unit bedstead when the folding bed is unfolded. The first and second vertical end portions are configured to be disposed at an internal side of the respective unit bedstead.

In some embodiments, each respective vertical end portion in the first and second vertical end portions comprises a bent protrusion configured to extend towards an interior of the connection member.

In some embodiments, the horizontal member is recessed downwardly towards the bent protrusion forming a groove, and the peripheral bar of the frame of the respective unit bedstead is disposed between a first side of the groove and the respective vertical end portion.

In some embodiments, the first and second vertical end portions are spaced apart with a gap in-between to accommodate an end of a crossbar from the plurality of crossbars of the respective unit bedstead.

In some embodiments, an angle formed between the horizontal member and each respective vertical end portion is not greater than 90°.

In some embodiments, an angle formed between the horizontal member and the first side of the groove is not greater than 90°.

In some embodiments, a chamfer edge is formed between the horizontal member and each respective vertical end portion.

In some embodiments, a round edge is formed between the horizontal member and each respective vertical end portion.

In some embodiments, the connection member is formed by pressing and bending a sheet of material.

The folding bed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is provided to cure the disadvantages of the prior art while having the advantages of a convenient coupling structure, thereby greatly reducing assembly time.

The methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure have other features and advantages which will be apparent or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a folding bed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a view of a connection member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of a connection member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first subject could be termed a second subject, and, similarly, a second subject could be termed a first subject, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The first subject and the second subject are both subjects, but they are not the same subject. Furthermore, the terms “subject” and “user” are used interchangeably herein.

The terminology used in the present disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.

An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to provide a folding bed 100. Referring to FIG. 1, the folding bed 100 comprises a first unit bedstead 10 disposed on a first side and a second unit bedstead 10 disposed on a second side of the folding bed 100. Moreover, the first unit bedstead 10 is coupled to the second unit bedstead 10 through one or more connection members 20. The connection member 20 couples the first unit bedstead 10 and the second unit bedstead 10, wherein a mattress can rest atop the combined folding bed 100.

Each of the first unit bedstead 10 and the second unit bedstead 10 comprise a frame 13 including a peripheral bar 11. The frame 13 also defines an interior. Further, a plurality of crossbars 12 is disposed in a common direction in the interior defined by the frame 13 and coupled to the frame 13.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in some exemplary embodiments, corresponding to each of the first and second unit bedsteads, the connection member 20 comprises a horizontal member 21, a first vertical end portion 22, and a second vertical end portion 22. The first vertical end portion 22 is disposed on a first edge of the horizontal member 21, and the second vertical end portion 22 is disposed on an opposite second edge of the horizontal member 21. In the exemplary embodiment, the horizontal member 21 is disposed above the peripheral bar 11 of the frame 13 and each of the vertical end portions 22 is disposed at an internal side of the first unit bedstead 10 and the second unit bedstead 10 respectively, thereby coupling the first and second unit bedsteads 10 together.

Each respective vertical end portion 22 is provided a bent protrusion 23 extending towards an interior of the connection member 20. The bent protrusions 23 are configured to clamp to the peripheral bar 11 of the frame 13, thereby preventing the connection member 20 from disengaging the frame 13 during use. In the present embodiment, the horizontal member 21 abuts a top surface of the peripheral bar 11 of the frame 13 and the bent protrusion 23 abuts a bottom surface of the peripheral bar 11 of the frame 13; however, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For instance, in another embodiment, the horizontal member 21 abuts a bottom surface of the peripheral bar 11 of the frame 13 and the bent protrusion 23 abuts a top surface of the peripheral bar 11 of the frame 13.

Furthermore, the horizontal member 21 is recessed downwardly towards the bent protrusion 23 to form a groove 24. The groove 24 spans from a third edge to a fourth edge of the horizontal member 21. The peripheral bar 11 of the frame 13 of each respective unit bedstead 10 is located between a first side 25 of the groove 24 and the respective vertical end portion 22. The distance between the first side 25 and the respective vertical end portion 22 is approximately the same as the width of the peripheral bar 11 of the frame 13. In the present case, the frame 13 can be stabilized in a horizontal direction while simultaneously being stabilized in a vertical direction, as described above, thereby ensuring that the folding bed 100 does not shake or is unbalanced during use.

During a manufacturing process of the folding bed 100, the disposition of the connection member 20 corresponds to the periphery of the frame 13; therefore, a separation is formed between the respective bed frames 13 of the respective unit bedsteads 10, and the groove 24 ensures that the folding bed 100 is stable.

The first and second vertical end portions 22 are spaced apart with a gap 26 in-between to accommodate a crossbar 12 (e.g., an end of the crossbar) from the plurality of crossbars 12 of the respective unit bedstead 10. The gap 26 ensures that the connection member 20 cannot slide on the peripheral bar 11 of the frame 13 during use, thereby improving the stability of the folding bed 100.

To generate a sufficient clamping force between the connection member 20 and the peripheral bar 11 of the frame 13, an angle formed between the horizontal member 21 and each respective vertical end portion 22 is not greater than 90°. Further, an angle formed between the horizontal member 21 and the first side 25 of the groove 24 is not greater than 90°.

In some embodiments, a chamfer edge is formed between the horizontal member 21 and each respective vertical end portion 22.

In some embodiments, a round edge is formed between the horizontal member 21 and each respective vertical end portion 22.

In some embodiments, the connection member 20 is formed by pressing and bending a sheet of material.

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “up”, “down”, “upwards”, “downwards”, “inner”, “outer”, “inside”, “outside”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, “interior”, “exterior”, “front”, “rear”, “back”, “forwards”, and “backwards” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding bed, comprising: a first unit bedstead disposed on a first side and a second unit bedstead disposed on a second side of the folding bed, wherein each of the first unit bedstead and the second unit bedstead comprises: a frame defining an interior and comprising a peripheral bar, wherein the peripheral bar of the frame of the first unit bedstead and the peripheral bar of the frame of the second unit bedstead are adjacent to each other, and a plurality of crossbars disposed in a common direction in the interior defined by the frame and coupled to the frame; and one or more connection members coupling the first unit bedstead and the second unit bedstead, wherein corresponding to each respective unit bedstead in the first and second unit bedsteads, each connection member comprises: a horizontal member abutting a top surface or a bottom surface of the peripheral bar of the frame of the respective unit bedstead when the folding bed is unfolded, a first vertical end portion at a first edge of the horizontal member, and disposed at an internal side of the respective unit bedstead when the folding bed is unfolded, and a second vertical end portion at an opposite second edge of the horizontal member, and disposed at the internal side of the respective unit bedstead when the folding bed is unfolded.
 2. The folding bed according to claim 1, wherein each respective vertical end portion in the first and second vertical end portions comprises a bent protrusion configured to extend towards an interior of the connection member.
 3. The folding bed according to claim 2, wherein the horizontal member is recessed downwardly towards the bent protrusion to form a groove, and the peripheral bar of the frame of the respective unit bedstead is disposed between a first side of the groove and the respective vertical end portion.
 4. The folding bed according to claim 3, wherein the first and second vertical end portions are spaced apart with a gap in-between to accommodate an end of a crossbar from the plurality of crossbars of the respective unit bedstead.
 5. The folding bed according to claim 1, wherein an angle formed between the horizontal member and each respective vertical end portion is not greater than 90°.
 6. The folding bed according to claim 1, wherein an angle formed between the horizontal member and the first side of the groove is not greater than 90°.
 7. The folding bed according to claim 1, wherein a chamfer edge is formed between the horizontal member and each respective vertical end portion.
 8. The folding bed according to claim 1, wherein a round edge is formed between the horizontal member and each respective vertical end portion.
 9. The folding bed according to claim 1, wherein the connection member is formed by pressing and bending a sheet of material. 